Kanye West Receives 10 Grammy Nominations

By Associated Press&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Tue 11:23 AM, Dec 07, 2004&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Tue 11:23 AM, Dec 07, 2004

Producer-turned-rapper Kanye West collected a leading 10 Grammy nominations Tuesday, including album of the year for "The College Dropout" which avoided typical boasting of sex, money and crime in favor of rhymes about everyday life.

The performer, who isn't afraid to sing his own praises after claiming he was "definitely robbed" when he picked up no trophies at the American Music Awards, also had a nomination for best new artist and shared a songwriting bid for song of the year from religious rap "Jesus Walks."

West said he felt vindicated because it was difficult for him to get a record deal.

"When I made (the album) I thought these were the types of songs I thought the Grammys would like to get behind," he told E News live. "I couldn't even imagine 10 nominations in my wildest dreams. I appreciate being recognized."

R&B romeo Usher and piano songstress Alicia Keys, who collaborated on the hit "My Boo," followed West with eight nominations each, including album of the year for Keys' "The Diary of Alicia Keys" and Usher's "Confessions."

The late Ray Charles, whose posthumous duets album "Genius Loves Company," became the biggest selling album of his long career, had seven nominations including album of the year and record of the year for "Here We Go Again," sung with Norah Jones.

Green Day garnered six bids for its hard-driving rock-punk album "American Idiot" which satirized culture, politics and apathy. The group was nominated for record of the year and best rock song for the title track and best rock album.

Besides Charles' and Jones' "Here We Go Again" and Green Day's "American Idiot," other record of the year contenders were the mellow love song "Heaven" by Los Lonely Boys, the jumpy party song "Let's Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas and Usher's massive hit "Yeah!"

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